Friday’s vote of the 21-nation World Heritage Committee confirmed what was speculated – the Australian Government and Environment Minister Sussan Ley had secured enough support to keep the Great Barrier Reef off the ‘in danger list – for now, at least… The next steps are officials from UNESCO, the United Nations body that recommended the move, will visit the Reef in the coming months. And our government will need to do its homework earlier by submitting a report on improvements by February 2022 instead of at the end of next year. Not taking a backwards step is the head of UNESCO’s marine program Dr Fanny Douvere who said “The facts are the facts, and the science is the science.” Also chipping in was NSW Environment Minister Matt Keen, who tweeted “Political lobbying does not change the science”. Queenslanders love it when state pollies from other parts of the country get involved…